Australian Open: World No. 1 Sinner destroys De Minaur, will face Shelton in semi-finals

Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner stormed into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory over home favourite Alex de Minaur, dropping just six games in a stunning display of power and precision on Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner, the world No. 1, showed no signs of the illness that had hampered him in his previous match against Holger Rune. The Italian dismantled de Minaur with ease, extending his unbeaten streak against the eighth-seeded Australian to 10-0, including 20 consecutive sets.

After a difficult fourth-round battle, Sinner looked back to his best, moving smoothly across the court and unleashing a relentless barrage of aggressive ball-striking.

The match was all but decided when he broke de Minaur early in the opening set after a 24-shot baseline rally. From that point, there was little the Australian could do to counter Sinner's pace and precision.

De Minaur, playing in front of a patriotic home crowd, struggled to create opportunities, managing just four winners in the first set. Despite some resistance, he could not find a way past Sinner's consistent play. The Italian broke immediately in the second set, then again to secure it in just 40 minutes.

With Sinner in control, de Minaur continued to falter, and the third set ended quickly as Sinner broke twice to cruise into the semi-finals.

Sinner, who triumphed at the US Open last year, is aiming to defend his first Grand Slam title. If successful, he would become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam titles, after his victory in Melbourne last year.

Sinner’s opponent in the semi-finals will be American Ben Shelton, who battled past Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in a thrilling four-set encounter. Shelton, the 21st seed, won 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), reaching his second Grand Slam semi-final after making the quarter-finals in Melbourne two years ago.

The 22-year-old, known for his powerful serve and fearless play, fought off a tough challenge from the unseeded Sonego, who frequently attacked the net. Shelton showed remarkable determination, particularly during the fourth-set tie-break, where he dived across the court to retrieve a volley before springing to his feet to complete a press-up.

"I feel relieved right now," Shelton said after his victory. "Shout out to Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis. I'm really happy to be through, get my first win on Rod Laver Arena. It’s one of my favourite matches of my career."

Shelton’s victory sets up a semi-final showdown with Sinner, as both players chase a spot in Sunday’s final. The winner will meet either 10-time champion Novak Djokovic or second seed Alexander Zverev.